Falcons' Frosh Drub Bruins, 27-8; Win PVL Crown

Courtesy Photo/obfoto.comColfax High freshman receiver John Hayes (88) outleaps Bear River's Nick Mertens for a pass reception in Thursday's Pioneer Valley League football game at Colfax. The Falcons posted a 27-8 win to finish the season at 8-1-1 and grab the outright PVL frosh championship.

Color the Pioneer Valley League freshman football championship a hue of Forest Green and White.
Capping off an outstanding season in which its depth came to the forefront, the Colfax High frosh football team handed Bear River a 27-8 drubbing Thursday night at Marson Stadium to cinch the outright PVL frosh title.
Thursday’s win lifted Colfax’s PVL record to 3-0-1, one-half game better than second place Lincoln’s 3-1-0 record. Overall, the Falcons, after losing their season opener to an undefeated Del Oro team, won eight of its next nine games, the only blemish being a tie with Placer.
“Anytime you can go 8-1-1 and win a league championship you’ve had a great season,” said Colfax coach Bob Luke. “Like they have all year, the kids really picked each other up tonight.”
Colfax’s win Thursday was sparked by an evenly balanced offensive attack which produced 305 yards, 151 on the ground and 154 through the air. On defense, meanwhile, Colfax limited the Bruins to just 160 total yards on the night.
The Falcons started the scoring on its first drive of the night after the team’s defense forced a three and out on Bear River’s opening possession.
Starting from their own 40, the Falcons drove 60 yards in just eight plays to draw first blood. The honors came when quarterback Michael Wilson connected with Chancey Trentman on a two-yard scoring pass. The big plays in the march were a 15-yard run by Tanner Kane and a 13-yard pass from Wilson to Jordan Balser.
The two teams traded fumbles on the next two series’ and just before halftime Colfax had a drive which was halted at the Bruins 5-yard line.
However, when the Bruins couldn’t move on its ensuing possession, Colfax got the ball back with just 1:36 to play in the half but made the visitors pay dearly for it.
With Wilson finding Baily Bean for seven yard, John Hayes for 24, and Kyle Bryant for 14 more, Colfax set up shop at the 13-yard line with just 34 seconds to play.
Wilson scrambled for two-yards to the 11 and then after a time out, he found Trentman. The 11-yard TD pass with just 19 ticks left on the clock, pushed Colfax into a 13-0 halftime lead.
The Falcons didn’t let up in the second half as the Falcons took the second half kickoff and promptly marched 59 yards in nine plays. Chas Reisinger, who filled in for Kane when Colfax’s leading rusher went down with a hand injury, scored from three yards out to up the count to 20-0, Colfax.
The teams then forced each other into punt but Colfax received a break when Kyle Bryant recovered a fumble by the Bruins on a Colfax punt at the Bear River 28.
After Wilson was sacked by Zack Quirarte, Wilson found Hayes for 21 yards before Reisinger went off tackle from 14 yards out and scored his second touchdown of the night making the score 27-0.
Bear River then finally got untracked as Brad Botsford returned Colfax’s next kickoff 50 yards down to the Colfax 33. BR quarterback Nick Mertens then found receiver Kristopher Edie on a 36-yard touchdown pass. On the two-point conversion, Botsford hauled in a Mertens aerial to make the score, 27-8.
Offensively for Colfax, Reisinger led all rushers with 57 yards on nine carries. Kane added 43 on eight packs while Trentman picked up 36 on seven packs and Bean contributed 18 on two carries.
Wilson had a good night passing as he hit on 15 of 19 passes for 155 yards. Hayes had three catches for 65 yards while Trentman latched onto six balls for 32 yards.
Botsford was Bear River’s leading ball carrier with 50 yards on 11 carries. Mertens added 22 yards on five carries and also hit on five of 16 passes for 64 yards.